Soul Quest Records opens a fresh chapter with ‘Re:Quest Vol.1’, a new remix series that revisits the label’s growing back catalogue, bringing fresh perspectives to music that already holds a special place in its story. Staying true to the label’s signature blend of deep, soulful house, jazz influences and broken beat, the four-track release brings together a talented selection of producers, each adding their own flavour while preserving the essence of the original recordings.
Among them is London-based DJ and producer Wez Whynt, who takes on KingCrowney and Zoe Kypri’s ‘Coat On.’ With over 20 years behind the decks, a reputation for soulful, vocal-led sounds and a growing catalogue of his own productions, Wez brings a wealth of musical experience to the project. His remix blends house and broken beat, pairing lush keys and a spacious groove with Zoe Kypri’s expressive vocals.
The remix also marks a special moment in Wez’s relationship with the label. Having admired Soul Quest Records for some time, he reached out to founder Max Sinàl in the hope of collaborating. The suggestion of ‘Coat On’ proved to be the perfect starting point, with Wez joining forces with producer and sound engineer Ziggy Funk to bring his vision to life.
We caught up with Wez to talk about the inspiration behind the remix, his musical journey, the art of reworking a record and what makes the Soul Quest sound so special.
WWD: You’ve been DJing for over 20 years, building a reputation for soulful, vocal-led house music across some of London’s best-loved parties and beyond. How has your journey behind the decks shaped the producer you are today, and what elements of your DJ sound do you always try to bring into your own productions?
I’ve actually been DJing for over 25 years now, and soulful music has always been at the heart of everything I do. Growing up listening to soul, neo-soul, R&B and rare groove really shaped my musical taste.
When I started producing, I wanted to bring those same influences, emotions and feelings into house music, but with my own interpretation. For me, it’s always been about creating music that has soul, tells a story and connects with people, whether they’re listening at home or on the dancefloor.
WWD: You’ve spoken about being a long-time admirer of Soul Quest Records and the music coming out of the label. What is it about the Soul Quest sound and ethos that resonates with you, and how did the opportunity to remix ‘Coat On’ first come about?
For me, it’s all about the deep and soulful sound. I first became aware of Max Sinàl and the Soul Quest family through So Long, which really caught my attention.
From there, I started digging into their back catalogue and realised just how diverse the music coming out of the label was. I love discovering new sounds and being introduced to different styles of music, and I think that’s exactly what Soul Quest represents.
I’d been following the label for a while, so I reached out to Max to see whether there were any projects I could get involved in. He mentioned the possibility of remixing Coat On, and having already been a fan of KingCrowney and Zoe Kypri’s work, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
WWD: KingCrowney and Zoe Kypri’s original ‘Coat On’ already has a strong identity, particularly through Zoe’s rich and expressive vocals. When you first approached the remix, what stood out to you about the original, and did you have a clear musical direction in mind from the start?
Without a doubt, it was Zoe’s incredible vocal range that stood out to me.
I’d previously heard her on Made By Pete’s massive track Horizon Red, and I was completely blown away by her voice and the emotion she brings to a record.
When I went back and listened to Coat On, there was a particular moment where Zoe sings, “I want you to feel so much better,” and I just thought, wow!
That part really connected with me, and I knew straight away that I wanted to build something around the emotion in her vocals while giving the track my own soulful interpretation.
WWD: Your remix sits beautifully between soulful house and broken beat, with lush keys and a spacious, rolling groove. How did you approach finding that balance, and what did you want your version to bring to the dancefloor while still respecting the spirit of the original?
I’ve always believed that the vocalist should be front and centre, especially when you’re working with someone as talented as Zoe.
I never want the production to overpower the singer or take away from the emotion of the original recording. It’s about finding that balance where the music complements the vocals rather than competing with them.
With Coat On, I wanted to keep that soulful feeling but also give it a distinctly UK flavour, bringing in elements of broken beat alongside the house groove. Something musical, soulful and still able to move a dancefloor.
WWD: You teamed up with Ziggy Funk in the studio to bring the remix together. How did that collaboration work creatively? Did you both come into the session with ideas already mapped out, or did the track develop organically as you experimented with the sounds and arrangement?
Wow, where do I start with the coolest man on the planet, Ziggy Funk! 😂
Ziggy and I have been working together for quite a while now, and he’s actually one of the main reasons I got into music production in the first place.
He’s incredibly talented, humble and just a genuinely good person to work with. He knows what I like and, more importantly, what I don’t like! Lol.
We have a great understanding of each other musically, and things tend to flow naturally when we’re in the studio. We just click, and that’s exactly what happened with Coat On.
Ziggy was responsible for the keys and bass on the remix, so he definitely put his own stamp on the record as well. It’s always a pleasure creating music with him.
WWD: You’ve already had the chance to play the remix out, and you’ve described the reaction as amazing. How important is testing your music in a club environment, and has the crowd’s response taught you anything about the track that you might not have discovered in the studio?
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that people really do love a good vocal!
My better half absolutely loves Coat On, so I already had a feeling I was onto a winner! Lol.
But all jokes aside, the soulful and vocal side of house music has always been what draws me in. There’s something special about a vocal that connects with people emotionally.
I played the remix at Forward Motion, and the reaction was amazing. Seeing people respond to something you’ve created is a fantastic feeling, and it confirmed that we’d managed to capture the right energy with the track.
For me, that’s one of the best parts of being both a DJ and a producer. You get to experience firsthand how your music connects with the dancefloor.
WWD: ‘Re:Quest Vol.1’ brings together four different interpretations, from Kai Alcé’s vocal-led take on ‘Simple Love’ to Last Nubian’s spiritual, Afro-tinged remix of ‘Really Love’ and Sean Green’s bruk-inflected rework of ‘Healing.’ What do you think makes a great remix, and how do you feel your version of ‘Coat On’ fits into the wider musical journey of this release?
First of all, the whole EP is dope!
Every producer involved has brought their own style and personality to the remix package, and that’s what makes it such a strong release.
I’ve got to give a special mention to Kai Alcé’s remix of Simple Love. That one is absolute fire!
For me, a great remix is about respecting the original record while bringing something fresh to the table. You want people to recognise what made the original special, but also hear your own musical identity coming through.
I feel my version of Coat On brings that UK soulful house and broken beat flavour to the package, which sits nicely alongside the other interpretations. That’s the beauty of a project like this: different producers, different influences, but all connected through the love of good music.
WWD: Your own production journey has delivered some notable moments, including ‘Truth Is Here’ with Angel A reaching number one in the Afro chart, your remake of the BMU anthem ‘You Will Know ‘, and collaborations with vocalists such as Earl W Green. How has your approach to production evolved since ‘Love’s Taken Over,’ your first release, and what have you learned about translating your musical ideas into finished records?
I’ve always approached my productions like telling a story. For me, every record should have a beginning, a middle and an end. I want to take the listener on a musical journey rather than just putting together a collection of sounds.
Since my first release, Love Taken Over, I feel I’ve grown a lot as a producer. My understanding of drums, keys, basslines and arrangements has definitely improved over the years.
But I certainly haven’t done it alone. I’ve been fortunate enough to have some amazing people help and guide me along the way, including Ziggy Funk, Sy Sez, Sean McCabe, Brother James, Micky Johnson and, of course, my better half! 😂
I’m still learning all the time, and that’s what I love about producing music. There’s always something new to discover and another way to improve your sound.
WWD: Alongside your DJing and production, you founded Steady Progression in 2024, expanding your work into parties, a YouTube show and plans for a record label. How does Steady Progression reflect the wider musical culture you want to champion, and how do you see it developing alongside your own artist career?
I’ve always believed that Steady Progression was the right name because it reflects exactly how I want to approach things: moving forward at my own pace, building something properly and not rushing the process.
Although the Steady Progression journey started earlier, I only officially launched Steady Progression Recordings in 2026, so the record label side of things is still very new.
I’m quickly discovering just how much work goes into running a label! There’s a lot to learn, but I’m genuinely loving every minute of it.
The whole idea is to create a platform that celebrates deep and soulful house music, supports talented artists and brings together different musical influences from around the world.
My philosophy has always been maximum effort, maximum reward. Put your best foot forward, believe in what you’re doing and keep progressing.
It’s not about rushing to the finish line. It’s about enjoying the journey and building something that will hopefully stand the test of time.
WWD: With ‘Re:Quest Vol.1’ launching a new chapter for Soul Quest Records, what does being part of this first instalment mean to you personally? And looking ahead, what can we expect next from Wez Whynt, both in the studio and through Steady Progression?
It’s fantastic to be part of the first instalment of Re:Quest, especially as I’ve been such a big admirer of Soul Quest Records and the music they’ve been putting out.
I’m really grateful to Max, KingCrowney, Zoe and the whole Soul Quest family for giving me the opportunity. Hopefully, I’ll be back on the label again very soon, maybe next time with one of my own original productions!
As for Steady Progression Recordings, we’ve got one more release lined up before the end of 2026, a track called Hypnotic featuring Ms Fly, which I’m really excited about.
Looking ahead to 2027, there’s plenty happening behind the scenes. I’m working on projects with Dav Risen, Frankie Feliciano, Masaki Morii, KG Sunset, Black Sonix, Vencer Café, Terry Dexter and a few others.
It’s shaping up to be a massive year for Steady Progression, and on top of all that, I’ll be celebrating my 50th birthday too!
So there’s plenty to look forward to. We’re just getting started.
Watch this space!
WWD: We definitely will! Thanks for the chat 🙂
Wez Whynt’s ‘Coat On’ remix is available here